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With Miikka Kiprusoff listed as ‘day-to-day’ with a lower-body injury, the Calgary Flames signed netminder Danny Taylor to a one-year, two-way deal. He arrived in Ohio late Wednesday and will be the backup to Leland Irving for Thursday’s clash with the host Columbus Blue Jackets.

Not long after announcing the signing, Flames GM Jay Feaster told reporters in Columbus that Kiprusoff’s injury — suffered in the second period of Tuesday’s 4-1 NHL win over the Detroit Red Wings — is not believed to be serious.

While Taylor scored a new contract, it’s Irving that will be in the spotlight while the 36-year-old goaltender heals.

“When you lose a player of that calibre, that’s a hole in your lineup, and it’s a big hole. It’s a big hole in a very important position,” Feaster said. “At the same time, we have a lot of confidence in Leland.

“Everybody needs that opportunity. You sometimes need the door to open, and once the door opens, it’s incumbent on the athlete to kick that door in. That’s what (Irving) has right now, a tremendous opportunity.

“I’m confident he’s going to handle this the right way. The 20-year veteran started one day as a rookie who had never played a game.”

Ironically, Taylor wrestled the starting job away from Irving with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat late last season.

Taylor, 26, has spent the past two winters with the Heat but was on an AHL-only deal with the Flames’ top affiliate.

That all changed after Kiprusoff’s injury left the Flames in need of another netminder.

“(Taylor) was excited. I said goodbye to him at 5:30 a.m. here at the rink (in Abbotsford, B.C.). He got in a cab and took off, and he was pretty pumped up to be where he was going,” said Heat head coach Troy Ward. “He’s very deserving.”

How long his NHL stay will last is uncertain.

Kiprusoff has been a workhorse for the Flames, appearing in at least 70 games in each of the past seven seasons. In fact, no NHL netminder has been in the crease as often since the 2004-05 lockout as the flexible Finn.

“In the second period, I felt some discomfort in the lower body area,” Kiprusoff said Wednesday from Columbus, Ohio. “During the intermission, it was decided that I not return to play. I really believe that this is a short term injury and over the next days, I’ll work toward being ready as soon as possible.”

Heading into Tuesday’s action in Detroit, the Flames were the only team that had not used its backup goalie so far this season.

That changed after two periods, with Irving called upon after Kiprusoff suffered a ‘lower-body’ injury. The 24-year-old backup stopped six shots, and Mark Giordano scored a late insurance goal in the Flames’ 4-1 win.

Kiprusoff was examined Wednesday in Columbus, and the team is optimistic he’ll be ready to go relatively soon.

“Based on talking to our medical staff, our trainers, we feel pretty good about it being day-to-day,” Feaster said.

According to Feaster, the Flames checked out the trade market and also considered signing Heat goalie Barry Brust, the former Calgary Hitmen standout who represented the Heat in the AHL All-Star Game last week.

“For a lot of reasons, we felt Danny is the guy best suited for this role right now,” Feaster said.

Born in Plymouth, England, and raised in Ottawa, Taylor’s only NHL action came March 29, 2008, for the Los Angeles Kings. He played one period against the Dallas Stars, surrendering two goals on 10 shots.

The 6-foot-1 goalie backstopped the Heat to Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Rochester Americans. He is currently second in the AHL with a 1.77 goals-against average and fourth with a .930 save percentage.

“He’s very much ahead of most goalies in this league in his mental preparation and his ability to get himself ready to play and play on behalf of himself and his teammates. I think that’s one of his best strengths,” Ward said. “Obviously, he’s a goalie that had a ton of success down here in Abbotsford at different time last year, and he’s been a huge part of our success this year. To be in the position we’re in — in first place in our division right now — Danny has been a big part of that.

“He just plays a simple game, and he manages the puck well. And the superior parts of his game are mental.”

Taylor will earn US$525,000 at the NHL level.

To clear some room for the new addition, the Flames have moved left-winger Sven Baertschi (hip flexor) to injured reserve, retroactive to Jan. 26.

With Miikka Kiprusoff listed as “day-to-day” with a lower-body injury, the Calgary Flames have signed netminder Danny Taylor to a one-year, two-way deal. He's en route to Ohio and will be the backup to Leland Irving for Thursday's clash with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Taylor, 26, has spent the past two seasons with the Abbotsford Heat but was on an AHL-only deal with the Flames' top affiliate.

That all changed after Kiprusoff's injury — suffered in the second period of Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings — left the Flames in need of another netminder.

“(Taylor) was excited. I said goodbye to him at 5:30 a.m. here at the rink. He got in a cab and took off and he was pretty pumped up to be where he was going,” said Heat head coach Troy Ward. “He's very deserving.”

The Flames are expected to update Kiprusoff's status sometime Wednesday.